After World War II, my dad, Lawrence Ward learned watch repair and
became a registered chronograph technician. He then began doing watch
repair work for several stores in southeastern Idaho.
In 1950 he began Ward's Jewelers in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Leasing a
section of Fawson's Music Store for his location. I remember, as a small
child, going to the store and helping to clean the glass showcases for
dad and mom as well as listening to records in the many listening booths
at Fawson's Music Store.
Tiring of the harsh winters in Idaho, dad started looking for other
locations. In February of 1955 he found an ad in a jewelers magazine for
a store that was for sale in Fallbrook, California. We drove the winding
and narrow highways (there were no freeways) from Idaho through the
deserts to Fallbrook - that was one of the longest, coldest, trips I can
remember. We left during a blizzard and dad had to have a head bolt
heater put in the car to keep the engine from freezing overnights. It
was wonderful to arrive in the warm of southern California. Dad made an
agreement with Mr. Thomas of Thomas' Jewelers in Fallbrook and we
returned to Idaho to close things out up there.
In May of 1955, with snow still on the ground we left Idaho, another
long drive as far as an 8-year-old was concerned, arriving in Fallbrook
during the Pioneer Days Festival we began our new life here. Our first
location was 110 South Main, in Fallbrook.
Dad had been taking courses from the Gemological Institute of
America, and became a Graduate Gemologist, later through the American
Gem Society he was rated as a Certified Gemologist, Registered Jeweler,
and we had a fully Accredited Gem Laboratory in the store.
In 1959 we moved to a larger location at 113 North Main, in
Fallbrook, with the expanded shop and display areas we began more of our
own manufacturing. I was gradually being given more responsibility,
learning to clean and polish jewelry and beginning to learn to engrave.
When I was in Potter Junior High, I purchased my first engraving machine
by working for a penny a letter and putting the rest toward the cost of
the machine. Later, I purchased a larger machine by doing the same
thing. And, I made my spending money at a penny a letter.
I attended Fallbrook Union High School, class of
1965; I'm sure many
of my friends thought that I never had any fun because I went to work at
the store nearly every afternoon. But during those years, I participated
on the rifle team (yes, we had guns at school), the color guard (raising
the Flag daily at school and presenting the Flag before games and during
Avocado Festival parades). I put many miles on a unicycle up and down
Fallbrook's streets (it took me quite a while to earn the money for that
unicycle, I mowed many yards for 50-cents a job). I bought my first
motorcycle in 1964 by selling a coin from my collection, I don't ride
much anymore but I have put lots of miles on my bikes.
After high school I went to Palomar College. To earn some extra
spending money, a friend and I started a street sweeping business in
downtown Fallbrook. Each morning before we left for school we would
sweep both sides (including the gutters) of the two blocks of merchants
downtown. I think we only got 50-cents or a dollar a week from each
merchant, but that kept us in gas (25-cents a gallon) so we could get to
school, and…. I continued working at the store as my time would allow.
During my time at Palomar College, I became "The PsychOdelic
Maniac", my light show company traveled around the Southern
California area with such memorable bands as the THE GROOP, THE PLASTIC
PEOPLE and THE RAMPANT AVOCADO. Liquid projection was just about the
messiest thing I've ever done. I also, began learning about sound
reinforcement while working with the bands. I participated on the
Palomar College Archery Team, during their championship years of
1966-67.
I then began my time away from Fallbrook, as I moved to San Diego to
attend San Diego State, my reputation in lights and sound preceded me.
And I was recruited by Campus Life to help make a moving-light theater
marquee style sign as well as running sound for their concerts. My
senior year at San Diego State, I received my "Greetings" from
the Selective Service, I then spent 3-years in the Army.
I was in Vietnam during 1970, working with Computer Systems Command,
as a supply and maintenance computer specialist. In 1971-72 I was at
Fort Hood, TX working as a company clerk and battalion legal clerk.
During 1970, my parents again moved the store to a larger location at
1034 South Main Street in Fallbrook.
I returned to Fallbrook in 1972 and went to work again at the jewelry
store with my parents. During this time I again became involved with
music - this time a Christian group called Any Day Now, they had heard
of my experience with sound reinforcement and asked for my help. We
toured the West Coast and played at the Worlds Fair in Spokane,
Washington. It was in this group that I met my, then future, wife Karen.
During the mid '70s, I was working at the jewelry store during the
week and touring with Any Day Now on weekends. I was learning more
designing and repair as well as management skills.
In 1978, I married Karen Wise. Our love of our Lord Jesus Christ and
His music soon had us again actively involved in a music ministry
program. At the jewelry store we were again beginning to expand - we
took over two more spaces in our building and totally remodeled the
store, enlarging our shop area as well as our display area. I began
taking courses from the Gemological Institute of America at this time.
During the 1980s, I became more involved with the running of the
jewelry store, and at the same time I spent many weekends and nights
actively involved in the recording of eleven albums with Calvary Chapel
of Fallbrook. I have been engineering the sound/recording at Calvary
Chapel of Fallbrook since 1979 and have recently helped them in the
design and installation of new systems for their new sanctuary.
During the 70s and 80s, my brother David, worked with us at the
jewelry store as a designer/repairman, while he was here we purchased a
lot of new shop equipment. I had to learn a lot of new things when he
married and moved out of the area.
In 1997 I took over the store, my dad wanted to retire and do some
traveling. Shortly after he purchased a motorhome my mother had a
severe stroke and wasn't able to travel. She was the one who had
wanted to keep coming to the store and it wound up the other way around
as she became homebound, so he came daily to help with the watch repair.
The summer of 2000 brought about a new chapter for Ward's Jewelers,
the property where we had been located at for the previous 30 years had been
sold and all of the tenants there including Ward's Jewelers lost their
leases. We found a new location in the community of Bonsall (about 6
miles south of our previous location) and spent the summer remodeling
for a new store at the RiverVillage Shopping Center in Bonsall, and the
new store opened just before Christmas.
Six months later we endured more changes as dad suddenly passed away,
and I added taking care of my mother to my life.
2005 --
The move to Bonsall has been good for our business, in spite of the
things of the economy and the difference in the world since
9/11/2001.
Karen's life has also been turned into a caregiver as her dad
developed Alzheimer's and her mom's health isn't good.
The past several years I have managed to find a bit of time to do
some website work for our church and a couple of other commercial
accounts. Recently, due to many e-mail requests from all around
the world, I have been re-mastering for CD, from the original tapes, the
eleven
albums we recorded nearly 25-years ago.
Our tradition as quality jewelers continues!
